The Atlanta Braves are on fire, sitting 8.5 games ahead of the Miami Marlins and Washington Nationals in the NL East standings as they prepare for Tuesday night's clash with the Seattle Mariners. It's the kind of start that has fans dreaming big, but here's the exciting part: this team could be even better.
The key? Third baseman Austin Riley finding his groove. The 29-year-old is currently hitting just .213 with a .657 OPS, five homers, and 22 RBIs over 36 games—well below his career marks of .268 and .819 OPS across 857 contests. For a player in the fourth season of a 10-year, $212 million contract, there's plenty of room for improvement.
What makes this story so compelling is that the Braves are thriving despite Riley's slow start. Five players boast an .800-plus OPS, and the pitching staff has a collective 3.25 ERA. That depth has propelled Atlanta to the best record in the National League at 25-11, even with their highest-paid player struggling. Riley tops the payroll this year at $21.2 million, just ahead of star first baseman Matt Olson at $21 million.
The Braves haven't even been at full strength. No. 2 starter Spencer Strider made his season debut Sunday after recovering from an oblique strain, while star right fielder Ronald Acuña Jr. (hamstring), shortstop Ha-Seong Kim (finger), and several pitchers are sidelined. Yet the supporting cast has delivered in a big way.
Olson is on a tear with a 1.047 OPS, second baseman Ozzie Albies is hitting .331, catcher Drake Baldwin is at .313, and center fielder Michael Harris II is at .318. On the mound, Bryce Elder (1.88 ERA) and Chris Sale (2.14 ERA) have been dominant, while the bullpen has been rock-solid. Imagine what this squad can do when Riley finds his form and the injured stars return. For Braves fans, the best may be yet to come.